The Lot of the Jewish People^[a]

Chapter 9

Paul’s Love for Israel. ¹ I am speaking the truth in Christ—I am not lying, as my conscience bears witness for me through the Holy Spirit ² that I have great sorrow and unending anguish in my heart. ³ I would even be willing to be accursed, cut off from Christ for the sake of my brethren who are my kinsmen according to the flesh. ⁴ They are Israelites^[b] who have the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the Law, the worship, and the promises. ⁵ To them belong the patriarchs, and from them, according to the flesh, came the Christ, God forever, who is over all.^[c] Amen.

The Word of God Has Not Proved False. ⁶ It is not as though the word of God has proved false. For not all who were Israelites truly belong to Israel, ⁷ and not all of Abraham’s children are his true descendants. On the contrary, “It is through Isaac that descendants will bear your name.”

⁸ In other words, it is not through physical descent that people are regarded as children of God. Rather, the children of the promise are those who are counted as descendants. ⁹ For this is how the promise was worded: “About this time next year I shall return, and Sarah will have a son.”

¹⁰ And not only that, but Rebekah became pregnant by one man, her husband Isaac. ¹¹ Yet even before her children had been born or done anything good or bad, in order that God’s purpose of election might prevail, ¹² dependent not on human works but on his call, she was told, “The older shall serve the younger.” ¹³ As it is written,

¹⁴ Has God Been Unjust?^[e]What then are we to say to that? Has God been unjust? Of course not! ¹⁵ For he says to Moses,

¹⁶ Therefore, it does not depend on anyone’s will or exertion but on God’s mercy. ¹⁷ For Scripture says to Pharaoh, “I have raised you up so that I may display my power in you and that my name may be proclaimed throughout the earth.” ¹⁸ Consequently, he shows mercy to whomever he wills, and he hardens the hearts of whomever he wills.

¹⁹ In response, you will say to me, “Why then does he still find fault? Who can resist his will?” ²⁰ But who indeed are you, a human being, to argue with God? Can something that is made say to its maker, “Why did you make me like this?” ²¹ Surely, the potter can mold the clay as he wishes. Does he not have the right to make out of the same lump of clay one vessel for a noble purpose and another for ordinary use?

²² What if God, although wishing to show his wrath and to make known his power, nevertheless with great patience endured the objects of his wrath^[f] destined for destruction? ²³ He did so in order to make known the riches of his glory to the recipients of his mercy whom he prepared long ago for glory. ²⁴ We are the ones whom he has called not only from the Jews but also from the Gentiles.

²⁵ Witness of the Old Testament. As indeed he says in Hosea,

²⁷ And Isaiah cries out in regard to Israel:

²⁹ Isaiah had foretold previously:

³⁰ A Misguided Zeal. What then shall we say? That the Gentiles who did not strive for righteousness have achieved it, that is, righteousness based on faith, ³¹ but that Israel, who did strive for righteousness based on the Law, did not succeed in attaining it? ³² Why did this happen? Because they did not pursue it by faith but on the basis of works. They tripped over the stone that causes one to stumble, ³³ as it is written: